Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-07-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular CorrcspondcntD
WASHINGTON. ,IuIy a 1897

(From our Regular Corrcspondcnt.>
WASHINGTON, July A. 1887.
The fiscal year, ending June seth, being
affairs, do not know how I could interest
your readers more than by giving re-
sumo of Federal finances for the period
named. For that time Government re-
ceipts were S37l ,3S0,S03, against $780,
439, ,727, the previous year. The disburse-
nen,s for the same time, inclusive of PEN
sions and interest on the national debt,
were S26S, sic, 100, against S242, ASS, ,l3S
the preceding year, the surplus was Sl02,-
s64, ,703, against 500, ,956,5S9 the year be-
tore. With the exception of the years
1882, 1888 and 1884. the surplus has not
been 80 large since 1867. The receipts are
greatly In excess of the estimates, The
Secretary OF the Treasury in his annual
report December 1886, put them at $780,
OOO,O0O Thus the immense surplus goes
on pilng up, and the question that dwarfs
all others into utter insignifcance is how
to dispose of it, or rather how TO prevent
the National Treasury from absorbing all
OF the coantry's circulating medium and
thus paralyEe every interest of the people.
But thus being tough problem, which It
is the exclusive privilege of our Demo.
cratic friends to solve, must deslst from
the assumption of task so enormous and
uncongenisl.
However, wish to quote one of the
ablest and most eminent of living finan-
ciers, and one Of the best of Republicans
Senator Sherman, in fixing upon the
Democracy the whole responsibility lor
the existence OF the surplus: "The sur
plus in the Treasury should not be there
and IT would not be there had the Demo-
cratic Congress, or the House OF Rep resen-
tatives, which was overwhelmingly DEM
ocratic, performed its duty, which was
clearly to reduce the taxes. OF course the
party Is responsible for the surplus. The
leader tried to cut down the revenue aud
disagreed among themselves"
The usual changes incident 10 the Gov
ernmenls new year were made in the varl
Gus Departments; there were forty dis
missals from the Government Printing Of
lice, about twelve III the Treasury and
more or less in all, but there were lew
additions 10 the force IN some oil the De-
partments.
wish TO refer 10 an individual case,
because it not only concerns historical
character that will interest adj true Re
putlicans, but unmasks the hypocrisy of
the sham reformer Villas. Miss Van Lew,
lady who was loyal living in Richmond
throughout the rebellion and concealng
and feeding many Union soldiers who had
escaped from the horrors OF Libby prison,
and also conveying invaluable information
to Gen. Grant during the last year Of the
war, and when that immortal hero became
President lie gave Miss Van Lew charge of
the Richmond postofIice, which she sur
rendered for clerkship in the Postoffice
Department, paying $1,000, from which
Villas, the dude and fraud of the Cabinet
has degraded her TO a S720 position 10
make room for n lady not so well known
Secretary Lamar Is greatly disturbed
over the disclosure that Levi Bacon, the
lately deceased financial clerk of the Pat
ent Office, who was universally popular
and respected is defaulier for about
SS2, 900. Some of the clerks are more dis
tressed than the Secretary, ns their due
bills for salaries illegally advanced were
found among Bacon's papers and as lar as
1t can be done, these obligations will be
deducted from their salaries. One clerk
was advanced $500, which relative re-
funded to protect him.
at the Pension Office it IL stated that
1880 pension certificates were issued
during the last fscal year OF which num-
ber 55,l 1874 were original cases S,455 were
Mexican war claims under The act of Jan.
uary 29'h, 1887. In 1864, with the proofs
oil disability in nearly all cases particular
ly on hand, there were 50,l27 original al
lowances made. fhls was the largest
number of certificates ever issued up 10
last year, when The record of any previous
year was largely exceeded.
think ii may be seriously doubted
whether the President will have "walk-
over" tor denomination, because the nine.
teen men who failed to secure the place
Tor which there were twenty applicants in
almost every instance, are bitterly adverse
10 the Administration and will exercise an
influence by no means TO be despised. Bet
ting has already begun on the next Presi-.
dental election; Mr.. Wash Major, of this
city, has bet Buffalo man $500 that The
President will not be reelected.
II is cnrious coincidence that on the
sixth anniversary of the assassination
Of President Garfield, dangerous lunatic
was arrested in this city Tor threatening
President Cleveand's life.' The man hailed
from ILLINOIS, and imagines that the Pres
ident ia unjustly withholding fabulous
cum OF money due him.
As the festive Thermometer Is welling
with ihe nineties, Washington has the hot
and blnzlng regulation Fourth OF July
weather II the Chicago man who in
forms the Navy Department that lie Is
building great air ship that can carry
200 passengers to the North pole should
come now, the balloonist would get at
least one passenger here.